Here is the compound. I debated whether to even get it, but I decided to give it a go. If it all went well, thats one more set of blinky lights to keep an eyeball on. Worst case if I didnt work out, the tube was the right size for my mill z axis, which still has a jerry rigged vernier.
I ordered the shortest tube based on 5"-ish travel. The documentation says on these short length tubes its ok to only have tube end anchored on one end while the other extending through the encoder box unsupported on the other end cantilver style. After much headscratching, I arrived at this bar clamp design which & is attached by 2 drilled & tapped holes in the back of the compound block. The encoder is bolted to an aluminum block from the underside shown. Those same holes were convenient to mount the angle guard. I tried to match the dimensions carefully on these parts so everything would line up as there isn't as much adjustment latitude here.
The only thing I dont like is the tube end sticks out a bit, but only on the most extended compound position as shown. But I'm paranoid of catching it with my hand while turning the lead screw or bashing it with the tailstock if its aligned to the bed. But for the most part, it stays hidden under the guard so I'll just have to be careful. The guard travels with the compound.
I ordered the shortest tube based on 5"-ish travel. The documentation says on these short length tubes its ok to only have tube end anchored on one end while the other extending through the encoder box unsupported on the other end cantilver style. After much headscratching, I arrived at this bar clamp design which & is attached by 2 drilled & tapped holes in the back of the compound block. The encoder is bolted to an aluminum block from the underside shown. Those same holes were convenient to mount the angle guard. I tried to match the dimensions carefully on these parts so everything would line up as there isn't as much adjustment latitude here.
The only thing I dont like is the tube end sticks out a bit, but only on the most extended compound position as shown. But I'm paranoid of catching it with my hand while turning the lead screw or bashing it with the tailstock if its aligned to the bed. But for the most part, it stays hidden under the guard so I'll just have to be careful. The guard travels with the compound.
petertha, proud to be a member of MetalworkingFun since Sep 2012.